Noodler's Bottles switching from Glass to Plastic.

[KBeezie]

Least we'll get more ink (ie: it'll be filled up to more than 3oz due to the extra headroom), and if you're one of those people who leave the bottles out, the plastic is UV Blocking.

And for those of us in the North, we don't have to worry as much about shattered bottles ordered during the winter months.

Noticed on facebook people ranting about the change and how it's for higher profit margins and how they don't like the 'attractiveness' of the bottles and may switch brands etc.

IT's ink... it's noodler's ink... if you want attractiveness in a bottle you go with something like Iroshizuku, Montblanc, Akkerman, Edelstein, J.Herbin 1670, etc.

If you want ink, you buy ink.

[cwent2]

Noticed on facebook people ranting about the change and how it's for higher profit margins and how they don't like the 'attractiveness' of the bottles and may switch brands etc.

IT's ink... it's noodler's ink... if you want attractiveness in a bottle you go with something like Iroshizuku, Montblanc, Akkerman, Edelstein, J.Herbin 1670, etc.

If you want ink, you buy ink.

Evidently "they" did not watch the video and listen to Mr Tardif -- Like your take...

[TSherbs]

The opaque bottle is inconvenient for determining the level of remaining ink (and the color, in some instances--I have trouble reading the color labels on Noodler's). Also, the cost in terms of environmental degradation (in manufacturing and in disposal) is very important to me (but not, I guess, to Noodler's Inc because Mr. Tardiff did not mention anything concern about it). The "cost" to the consumer that Mr. Tardiff is concerned about is not only measured in dollars and cents (although it is also a very American tradition to limit the idea of cost to a corporate balance sheet or a price tag seen by a consumer). But perhaps the manufacturing of glass is even more costly to the environment than that of plastic. I would guess not, but I don't really know.

[mhosea]

From the video it sounded like he was hoping this was a temporary thing.

[jar]

I'd be happy if he would just put a little less ink in each bottle.

[Jon Szanto]

I'd be happy if he would just put a little less ink in each bottle.

This. Thisthisthis.

[Zhivago]

The opaque bottle is inconvenient for determining the level of remaining ink (and the color, in some instances--I have trouble reading the color labels on Noodler's). Also, the cost in terms of environmental degradation (in manufacturing and in disposal) is very important to me (but not, I guess, to Noodler's Inc because Mr. Tardiff did not mention anything concern about it). The "cost" to the consumer that Mr. Tardiff is concerned about is not only measured in dollars and cents (although it is also a very American tradition to limit the idea of cost to a corporate balance sheet or a price tag seen by a consumer). But perhaps the manufacturing of glass is even more costly to the environment than that of plastic. I would guess not, but I don't really know.

Environmental concerns are among the reasons Noodler's doesn't make cartridges for its ink.

[mhosea]

I have great sympathy for newbies and those suffering from hand tremors. But it seems to me that the complaints about Noodler's bottle fullness rather exceed the limits of these groups. It makes me wonder if a PSA is needed because people are laboring along without the right tools and techniques. I don't remember the last time I had any trouble with it at all. If you have normal hand control, then all you need do is remember to keep the bottom of the bottle flat on the table while unscrewing the lid for the first time. Actually, I just got into the habit of opening ALL ink bottles that way. Why not? Put a piece of paper under it for good measure. If you have C/C pens, the converter can be filled directly from the full bottle. If you wish to fill anything else, then just siphon off as much as you like with one of these.

Attachment 20894

Put the excess in a sample vial or throw it away (since the sentiment seems usually to be that you'd rather not have it in the first place).

[jar]

Put the excess in a sample vial or throw it away (since the sentiment seems usually to be that you'd rather not have it in the first place).

Yup. Rather just not have it in the first place and since there are so many other options I just avoid Noodler's inks. I'll eventually use up all the ones I have now but doubt I will ever buy another bottle of Noodler's ink. Plus, since he does not offer cartridges his inks automatically fall way down the "of any interest" list.

But others do and so all is fine.

[mhosea]

To be honest with you, I'm not using Noodler's inks very much anymore, myself. I've been rather annoyed at the long drying time on Tomoe River paper of the ones I still use any (gave lots of it away). The only bottle I still regard as one of my "better" inks is Revolution Blue, and that's such a "stainer" that I can't just use it in any pen that I might want to.

[Kaputnik]

It's unlikely that I'll be buying any more Noodler's inks, but it has nothing to do with this decision. It's just that I already bought rather too many in an early fit of enthusiasm, and now find myself using them much less than Sailor and Pilot inks.

Of course, the glass bottle is more aesthetically pleasing, but the first thing that occurred to me on seeing the words "plastic bottle" was that the greater porosity of plastic might lead to faster evaporation of the water in the ink. My previous exposure to this has been with cartridges that were only a few years old. The video spends quite some time addressing this, however, and indeed, modern plastics may be better at preserving the integrity of the ink.

All rather moot, for me. I'll continue to use a few of my Noodler's inks some of the time, but if I use up any one variety entirely, I doubt if I'd bother to replace it, regardless of the bottle material. Still, it's nice that Nathan Tardiff is doing his best to control prices. I'll let the real Noodler's fans decide whether they'd be willing to pay more to keep glass bottles.

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I asked on the YouTube video whether there would be water loss through the plastic. Mr. Tardif says "no" though he does concede that he doesn't know what will happen 40 years down the road.

I also asked about recycling the plastic bottles (assuming they are not suitable for use in my lab the way the glass ones are). He did not respond to that part of my question...whatever that means.

[Jon Szanto]

Put the excess in a sample vial or throw it away (since the sentiment seems usually to be that you'd rather not have it in the first place).

Mike, Mike... That isn't my angle on it. I like paying for what I'm getting, and I don't want to lose or toss away any. I just find it a bit ludicrous to jump through hoops, even small ones, when Nathan could simply put 1/4" less ink in the bottle and drop the price a tiny bit. It really becomes a dogmatic exercise in "I'll fill that bottle to the very rim, that'll show 'em!" mindset. I like some of the inks, I'll continue to buy them, but I don't have to necessarily appreciate an unmitigated crank who can't control his own personal ticks when doing business.

That's all, nothing major.

[mhosea]

Put the excess in a sample vial or throw it away (since the sentiment seems usually to be that you'd rather not have it in the first place).

Mike, Mike... That isn't my angle on it. I like paying for what I'm getting, and I don't want to lose or toss away any. I just find it a bit ludicrous to jump through hoops, even small ones, when Nathan could simply put 1/4" less ink in the bottle and drop the price a tiny bit. It really becomes a dogmatic exercise in "I'll fill that bottle to the very rim, that'll show 'em!" mindset. I like some of the inks, I'll continue to buy them, but I don't have to necessarily appreciate an unmitigated crank who can't control his own personal ticks when doing business.

Well, far be it from me to explain anything Nathan does, but I might surmise that he has a subtle reason for filling the bottles. He already sells a liquid product by weight, which violates US trade regulations. If you take the 3 oz. label as liquid, which is incorrect by his intention but is in fact the required legal interpretation, he's already under by at least 0.1oz because the bottles hold about 85ml at most, not the 88.7ml that would be required to make up 3 fluid ounces. IIRC, the discrepancy is even larger on the 4.5 oz. bottles.

[Bogon07]

I also asked about recycling the plastic bottles (assuming they are not suitable for use in my lab the way the glass ones are). He did not respond to that part of my question...whatever that means.

Isn't that a simple case of looking for "the universal triangle recycling symbol and accompanying number" on the bottom of the bottle ?
Or doesn't the US use that system.

[migo984]

Sadly, and there have been oodles of studies and surveys that prove this, people are much more likely to just chuck away plastic containers than glass ones, even if they are suitable for recycling. They perceive empty plastic as rubbish, but empty glass as useful. One reason why so much plastic ends up in land fill, dumped, fly-tipped, and floating in the ocean, where it is broken up into minute pieces and ingested by pelagic inhabitants.

[KBeezie]

I fill from sample vials anyways (transfer by syringe) so wouldn't bother me as much.

[KBeezie]

I also asked about recycling the plastic bottles (assuming they are not suitable for use in my lab the way the glass ones are). He did not respond to that part of my question...whatever that means.

Isn't that a simple case of looking for "the universal triangle recycling symbol and accompanying number" on the bottom of the bottle ?
Or doesn't the US use that system.

It's in the US, and on most of the white opaque bottles (usually #2) for things like tylenol/aleve, Omeprazole, etc. So I'm going to guess it's going to be #2 on the noodler's bottles as well which would be HPDE considered one of the safter plastics that are less likely to leach into the fluid. (but not sure about evaporation). The ones to be avoided are 3 [V], 6 [PS] and 7 [Other] (and for some applications, 1 [PETE]), the 'good' ones being 2 [HDPE], 4 [LDPE], and 5 [PP], though I'm not sure which is best for a liquid substance like ink.

If it was plastic for the 30ml size, I'd find that better in the long term since I can get thru 30ml faster than 90ml.

[Dragonmaster Lou]

I have to admit, I find it silly that Nathan doesn't like the idea of measuring ink in milliliters just because it's "European" or whatever other excuse he has.

Never mind that the Imperial (which he refers to as "American") units are defined, by US law, according to their metric equivalents, i.e. ounces are legally defined in terms of grams or milliliters depending on whether they are ounces of weight or volume.

[rafapa]

Another myth fallen. What will be next? "European" cartridges filled with Noodler's ink?